NC Alcohol Server cheat sheet
NC Alcohol Server · Keep the key ideas within reach.
Responsible Alcohol Server/Seller Training (RASP) - North Carolina Rules and Practice
Legal purchase and possession age in North Carolina is 21; selling or furnishing alcohol to a person under 21 is a criminal offense for the server and the permit holder.
A valid ID for alcohol purchase must be issued by a government agency (NC driver license, state ID, US passport, military ID, or a recognized foreign passport) and must contain a photo, date of birth, and description; expired IDs are not acceptable proof of age.
Permitted sales require a valid ABC permit displayed for the premises and on-premise/off-premise privileges matching the permit type; selling outside permitted hours or permit scope is a violation.
On-premise permittees must not serve a person who is visibly intoxicated; indicators include slurred speech, unsteady balance, bloodshot eyes, aggressive or overly loud behavior, and slowed reactions.
A person who appears under 21 must be asked for ID; if the ID is questionable, use the ABC-required age-verification steps: check the photo, date of birth, physical description, and look for tampering.
North Carolina requires sellers/servers to complete an approved RASP course within 30 days of hire (or before serving, per establishment policy); retraining is required after certain violations.
Refusing service is legal and expected: a server may decline alcohol to any patron who appears intoxicated or cannot produce valid age identification, and may ask the patron to leave.
A permit holder or employee may not allow a person under 21 to consume alcohol on the premises, and may not knowingly allow an intoxicated person to drive; call a ride or law enforcement instead.